Police update as three found dead with two seriously hurt after five go missing following Cardiff night out

Police have provided an update on the investigation into the circumstances of a car crash which left three people dead and two others seriously injured.

All five people - three women and two men - were last seen in Cardiff in the early hours of Saturday after a night out. The women, Sophie Russon, 20, Eve Smiht, 21, and Darcy Ross, 21, were last seen in Cardiff on Saturday after travelling there from Porthcawl.

They made the trip in a Volkswagen Tiguan with two men - Rafel Jeanne, 24, and Shane Loughlin, 32, both from Cardiff - who were also reported as missing. On Monday, a police spokesperson said the VW Tiguan was recovered just after midnight in the St Mellons area of Cardiff.

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Police believe the car was involved in a road traffic collision and came off the A48(M) but it is not yet clear exactly when that happened. The force has not said which people were found dead.

In a fresh statement, South Wales Police said that at 12.15am on Monday officers were called to a report of a car being located off the A48(M).

“South Wales Police is carrying out an investigation into the road traffic collision to establish what happened,” a force spokesman said. “We would like to thank the public for their patience and their cooperation whilst the road is closed. Our thoughts are with those affected by this incident.”

An IOPC spokesman said: “We can confirm that Gwent Police have advised us that they are making a referral in connection with this tragic incident and we will carry out an assessment in due course to determine what further action may be required from us.”

A Gwent Police spokeswoman previously said: “Three of